Are tiger safaris with children in the Indian jungle a good idea for a family holiday? I often get asked this question by guests travelling with their little ones. The short answer is yes, absolutely!
Introducing your kids to the magic of nature and wildlife at an early age is a gift that they will cherish for their whole life. The unfiltered joy and marvel that you’ll see on their face when admiring the animals and their behaviour will fill your heart and create unforgettable moments. They will love to observe the herds of deer grazing in the grasslands, the monkeys jumping on tree branches, the elegant dance of the peacocks… and just imagine their expression when they’ll see their first tiger.
In my journey as a naturalist it’s a scene I have experienced many times, one of the moments that reminds us how much we love our job.
There is no age limit in any Indian park so it’s totally up to you to decide weather your children are ready for their first trip to the jungle.
Of course, travelling with children implies taking a few precautions and thoroughly planning your holiday. Here are a few tips for a great tiger safari holiday with kids:
1 – Keep your children entertained but relaxed
Especially at a very young age, children can get tired quite easily. Avoid planning back to back safaris, but include other more relaxing activities. They might enjoy a nature or village walk, a cycle ride, or a bird photography workshop. A good wildlife lodge would often offer animations such as painting with a local artist or making tribal jewellery. Keep in mind that in most rural areas internet connection will be limited and let the kids take a little break from their favourite cartoons!
Ask your tour operator or your lodge what would suit your children the most, according to their age.
2 – Keep the safari experience as interesting as possible.
Before the drive, ask your naturalist to explain how to track a tiger and how to read the signs of the forest. Once in the jungle, the little ones will enjoy looking for pugmarks, listening to alarm calls and being part of this enticing game of hide and seek. Tiger safaris with children should be an unforgettable learning experience.
Also, ask the naturalist and the guide to show them the different birds and mammals. If possible, carry a children-friendly bird and animal list that they can tick every time they encounter a new species.
3 – Kids love tiger stories!
And we who work in the jungle could tell these stories for hours and hours. Ask your naturalist for some thrilling tiger tales in front of a campfire: your children will be mesmerized. Make sure that your children are introduced to the concept of conservation, and why it is important to save our tigers and our wilderness. They will go back home after becoming fervent ambassadors of the forest.
4 – Keep it comfortable
Safaris are exciting but being in such a different environment can at times be overwhelming for the little ones. Talk to your tour operator or lodge manager about general comfort and dietary requirements, so they can relax and feel taken care of. Children would often like to eat some very simple meal at an earlier hour. A kids-friendly wildlife lodge will be more than happy to satisfy this request.
5 – Thoroughly plan your journey to the wildlife destination
National parks are in rural or remote areas. The average transfer from the nearest airport to the park will take something between 2 to 5 hours, depending on the destination. Nowadays most of the streets are good and you will be travelling in a comfortable, air-conditioned SUV (Innova or similar). Most gas stations have clean bathrooms where you can stop if the need arises. Just keep the duration of your transfer in mind and be prepared. You might need to carry some snacks, games and something to entertain the kids during the journey.
6 – Choose a children-friendly resort.
You’ll probably prefer to relax in a family friendly, cosy environment where the staff will be able to help you out if you have any special request. If you go on a tour, just ask the tour operator whether the itinerary is suitable for children.
You can also opt for a fully customized experience: a good tour operator that specializes in wildlife will be able to tailor your trip according to all you needs and requirements.
What are the best children-friendly wildlife destinations? Here are a few of our favourite parks:
Kanha Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh
The most beautiful park of central India, exemplarily managed by the local Forest Department. Here everybody’s behaviour is at their best, which makes for a perfectly relaxing family holiday. A beautiful landscape coming straight out of a painting, Kanha is home to a healthy population of tigers and is the only place in the world where you can admire the handsome Barasingha, or hard ground swamp deer.
Weather: very chilly in the winter, so layer up! Summer’s heat is more bearable here than in other parks thanks to the Sal forest that never goes completely dry.
How to get there: 4-5 hours drive from Nagpur, Raipur or Jabalpur, depending on the gate you choose to enter from.
Tadoba Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra
One of the best places to see tigers in the wild, sightings are very frequent both in the buffer and in the core zone. A mixed forest whose most recognizable tree is bamboo, Tadoba has a great biodiversity. A black panther has also been sighted quite frequently in the heart of the core zone. The thrill of the quest for different big cats makes it a great place for tiger safaris with children.
Weather: Quite chilly in winter, especially in the early morning. Temperatures get very hot in summer, when the number of sightings is at its best with animals gathering around the waterholes.
How to get there: 2-3 hours drive from Nagpur airport, according to the gate you choose to enter from.
Pench Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra
A beautiful teak forest, cut by a river and its dam, and some rocky areas, this is the jungle that inspired Kipling’s imagination. Some of Pench’s tigers have reached worldwide recognition, such as Mataram, or Collarwali, the most prolific tigress in history. Pench has also a good density of leopards and one can hope to sight one of these elegant beauties.
Weather: Quite chilly in winter, especially in the early morning. Temperatures get very hot in summer, when the number of sightings is at its best with animals gathering around the waterholes.
How to get there: 2 hours drive from Nagpur airport.
Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh
Another Sal forest, dominated by an ancient fort. Bandhavgarh is another iconic national park with an excellent density of striped predators. Last season the local forest department has introduced an air balloon safari over the core zone: first of its kind in India.
Weather: very chilly in the winter, so layer up! Summer’s heat is more bearable than in other parks thanks to the Sal forest that never goes completely dry.
How to get there: 4 hours drive from Jabalpur airport.
Would you like to plan your tiger safaris with children in the best Indian Tiger Reserves? Don’t hesitate to contact me.
What are your best tips for an Indian safari holiday with kids?
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